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Business Travel in China 101s
Business travel through China can seem daunting at first. More than 290 dialects, over 1.3 billion people and a country that's developing so quickly it can feel like a high-speed train whooshing by. However, myBusiness offers some tips to help with travel in China.
Business travellers shouldn’t be anxious about looking to grow their business in Chinese markets. Knowing and practicing common customs will help you relax, avoid embarrassment and focus on matters at hand on critical occasions. Here's some travel and etiquette basics to help you say nín 您 hǎo 好 to a successful trip.
China Isn’t the Same Everywhere
Businesses usually try to optimise an employee's itinerary by having them visit multiple regions on the same trip. From afar, China may seem like a homogenous country but it's one of the most diverse in the world when it comes to ethnicities, languages, cuisine and culture.
With 56 recognised ethnic groups, cultural experiences can be as varied as the geographic distances that separate the regions. The largest group, the Han, make up over 92% of China's vast population. Yet, the 55 ethnic minorities, nestled away on China's furthest reaches, maintain their own rich traditions and customs, and all are part of the Chinese melting pot.
Relationship Building Is Key
Business in China relies heavily on personal relationships. It is important to establish and maintain good relationships with key business contacts. Relationship building may involve having lunch or dinner together, getting to know them socially in a more informal setting and following up on personal introductions once you leave. The Chinese value punctuality, so arrive on time or even slightly early for meetings or other occasions. And seniority is highly valued, so it is important to find out who the most senior person in the room is and address them first, by their title.
Business often gets conducted during meals and it's best to follow cues from your hosts on when to begin eating. Drinking - often the strong distilled alcohol called baijiu - is sometimes expected through a series of toasts throughout the meal, which serves as proof of a close relationship where partners can open up in a social setting.
Book Domestic Flights in Advance
According to industry forecasts by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), routes within or linked to China will be the single biggest growth driver in the period 2013-2017, accounting for 24 percent of new passengers. And traffic within the Asia-Pacific region, led by China, will account for more than one third of global passengers by 2017.
Not many businesses realise that when booking domestic flights in China, there's usually a surcharge if the agency you book through is foreign (i.e. located outside of China). That means that your Singapore travel agency incurs surcharges, which they pass along to their clients. Alternatively, if you book with myBusiness Group Deals - Business Air Travels you can organise domestic airline tickets at local prices without the surcharge, saving up to 50% off the cost.
Business Air Travels allows members to search and book domestic airline tickets for flights within China; receive access to an extensive network of cities and airports, in addition to partnerships with 26 airlines in China; obtain up to 50% cheaper rates because members are getting exclusive domestic prices; and allow members to utilise travel support in both Singapore and China - so you can rest easy regardless of schedule.
Communicate Well
Mandarin is China's official business tongue and is also the top language worldwide for business other than English, according to Bloomberg Rankings. If you don’t speak fluent Mandarin, it's worthwhile taking your own independent translator along for the trip. It's best not to rely on a your client's interpreter alone, as your message may not get conveyed in the way you want it to.
Brush up on basic Mandarin phrases before you go and then load some language apps to your phone. Mandarin and Cantonese language apps like Pleco Chinese Dictionary or CamDictionary both have integrated dictionaries but also recognise Chinese characters and will translate Chinese text on images snapped with a smartphone camera.
When dining out alone, use an app like EZOrder China or China Menu. These provide translations for whatever delicacy you're looking to try, along with a restaurant phrase book.
Do you have your own thoughts, tips and learnings from business trips to China? Share them by posting a comment below.